A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

August 30, 2010

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act set us on a mission to transform our health care system through the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Since I assumed the role of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 18 months ago, we have worked in concert and cooperation with other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to advance that mission.

In June we announced the establishment of a temporary certification program for EHR technology. The temporary certification program establishes the process that will be used to authorize organizations to test and certify EHR technology, and sets the parameters for testing and certification of EHR technology, until the permanent program is operational.  In July we announced the final rule for standards and certification criteria for EHRs, in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ announcement of the final rule on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.

Today, we announce another critical step in the process, designation of the temporary certification program’s first ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ATCBs).  These ATCBs will test and certify that certain types of EHR technology comply with the standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology adopted by the HHS Secretary in June.  Certification by an ATCB will signify to eligible professionals, hospitals, and critical access hospitals that an EHR technology has the capabilities necessary to support their efforts to meet demonstrate meaningful use under CMS’ criteria.

With this announcement, there are now organizations ready and able to begin certifying EHR technology—an important step in our mission to make certified EHR technology available in time for health care providers and hospitals to begin demonstrating meaningful use.

We are pleased to have certifying organizations in place so quickly after the release of final rules for standards and certification criteria and meaningful use. We look forward to soon announcing the availability of certified EHR technology and to working with providers to realize a safer, more effective, and more efficient health care system for all Americans.

For more on the ATCBs, please visit www.healthIT.hhs.gov/ATCBs.

Sincerely,

David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P.
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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